Letter – Nicholas Walton to Peter Mulcaster – 3 Jun 1771

Mr Mulcaster 							Farnacres 3rd June 1771



      Your Letter of the 29th together with the Bullion came safe to hand on Friday last and the Weight of the Cake is just 447 3/4 Ounces wch. exceeds the Assay.

      I observe your produce is farr from good indeed, the last Operation and we must have at all events the Coals we want; if there are any difficultys, which there ought not to be, pray let me know, because they ought to be removed or we may otherwise be greatly hurt. But if the Lessees of High Stublick Colliery cannot furnish us with the Coals we want to be sure we must not expect them to do it; when that is the case I beg youll inform us in order that we may take such steps as shall enable us to supply ourselves, and in general I must desire you will acquaint me whether Nicholas Temperley has designedly thrown any difficultys in the way of the Experiments we have been and are now trying. I realy Mr Mulcaster cannot but think there is some misunderstanding between your Brother and you concerning the produce for tho' I am satisfied he would not deceive you yet I apprehend it very possible as the method of working at Blaydon is different from our Mill by reason of the Sifting of the Litharge that the proper allowances on that Account may not be made I shall therefore call upon or send to your Brother some afternoon and talk this Affair over with him. Your Observations on the Elliots are very just.

      The Litharge saved, the Weight of which you have mislaid, was 8Cwt ...3lbs. I am for Mr Smeaton and Self

      Your Hble Servt

      NW Junr



PS I inclose herewith an Acct of the State of your Assays.





Ore from the following Mines appears to be Refineable from Assays made at Langley Mill which have been Tryed at Farnacres.

Mixed Ore.



Qu[er]y 

Carrs, Cowhill and Cowslitts (Old Cowslitts Cowslitts Cross Vein Cowhill Cross Vein Cowhill & Carr Cowhill, Cowhill Cross Vein, Old Cowslitts, and Cowslitts Cross Vein



SR MiddleCleugh 1st and 2nd Sun Veins

SR. Rampgill MiddleCleugh and Sun Veins

SR. Greengill and Hush

 

The Slag from those marked SR is Refineable. Those marked Quy must be reckoned uncertain til further Tryal.

 

Unmixed Ore

 

SR. Rampgill

SR. Same by 2d Assay

SR. Same by 3D Assay

SR Greengill Hush

SR. MiddleCleugh

SR. Thorngill by 3 Assays

SR. Thorngill by 2 Assays very good

SR. Blagill by 2 Assay

SR. Capel Cleugh by 3 Assays very good

SR. Guddamgill Moss very good

SR. Greengill the same

SR. Rampgillhead the same

SR. Fletcherass the same

SR. Nentheadfield North Vein the same

SR. Crossgillhead by 2 Assays

SR. Windy Brow

SR. Carrs by 2 Assays

SR. Cowhill Cross Vein by 2 Assays

SR. Capel Cleugh North Vein

 

All the Test Bottoms so far produce Refinable Lead & some very good. Black Slags produce Lead barely Refineable to the present time.

 

Ore from the following Mines not Refineable but the Assays ought not to be depended on til further Tryal.

 

Peatslackhill

Cashburn

Guddamgill burn

Cowshill

Old Cowslitts

 

Ore from the following Mines which has been or will be carried to Langley Mill this year no Assays have yet been made.

 

Rampgill Sun Vein

Thortergill Hd

Do               Cross Vein

Cowshill Cross Vein

Carrs South End

Dowgang

Longholehead

Capel Cleugh Sun Vein

Cornriggs

Rodderup Cleugh

Brownleyhill

Dryburn